Emma Thompson's film Sold is set to open the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles.

The child-trafficking drama, which stars Gillian Anderson, Seema Biswas and David Arquette, will launch the cinematic event at Hollywood's ArcLight on April 8, reported Variety.

The Saving Mr Banks star said: "Because of Sold's marvellous script and courageous and brilliant cast, it is a story that we can all watch - so that we may understand the processes of slavery in modern India and feel able to act without feeling the kind of rage and hopelessness that gets in the way of doing anything."

Based on Patricia McCormick's novel, featuring real-life accounts, Jeffrey Brown's film focuses on the subject of child-trafficking.

The Los Angeles Indian Film Festival, which showcases ground-breaking Indian cinema, runs from April 8-13.